Newburgh — Even before the Newburgh-Beacon ferry — left the dock yesterday, commuters were saying they're sold on the — new service.

— "Parking in Beacon is a real hassle — and expensive, — $2.50 a day to park and $1 for the bridge — so I'm happy to give it — all up for this kind of convenience and save money, too," said Andrew — Strohman of New Windsor.

— Erin Lahar and Michael Vatter, both of Newburgh, — nodded in agreement. Then Richard Risio of Newburgh offered this perspective:

— "Now I can take a later train and still get to work — on time. There's really no parking in Beacon after the 6:33 train, — so I'd always have to leave early if I was going to get a spot."

— About 30 commuters used the West New York ferry — on its first day. About 30 other people joined them just for the fun — of it — including Newburgh Mayor Nick Valentine and a contingent of — city officials and employees who gave all comers a boisterous welcome — and coffee and doughnuts. Ferries last traveled between Newburgh and — Beacon in 1963.

— Mother Nature yesterday supplied a strong wind to — manipulate the clouds and show off the full moon and stars to dramatic — effect. At daybreak, the clouds and the sky took on the colors of — a painting from the Hudson River school.

— "It's fantastic, a tremendous improvement over the — bus,'' said Thomas Goggin, who moved to Newburgh from Manhattan last — year. "But it's a great pity that there's no connecting service on — weekends or late at night if you want to take in a show or have dinner."

— Charmaine Johnson and Sonya Grant, both of Newburgh, — live close enough to walk to the ferry and plan to — but maybe not — in cold weather.

— Kerre Walsh of Salisbury Mills and John Davis of — Newburgh will ride the ferry as long as it delivers them on time to — their trains. Peter King of Newburgh will ride it until it stops running.

— Christine Piscitella of Newburgh will be happy if — she doesn't have to walk up that long, steep hill, in the dark or — the rain or the snow, in Beacon ever again.

— Gilbert Salas of New Windsor will trade the shuttle — bus from the park-and-ride on Route 17K for the ferry as long as the — price is the same (and it will be). Sarah Rusk of Marlboro will trade — Poughkeepsie for the ferry and Beacon and save time as well as money.

— Jimmy Schaeffer of Newburgh and Emanuel Lathouris — of Cornwall-on-Hudson will consider relinquishing their parking permits — in Beacon if the trip is as convenient in the winter, when ice forms — on the river, as it is now.

— The commuters got off in Beacon and boarded their — trains and went to work. The West New York went back to Newburgh carrying — a pair of Cornwall teenagers whose mother wanted them to have the — first-day experience before they went to school, and several joggers — and walkers who had added a ferry ride and a swing around the train — station to their morning routine.

— And Ron Nagel of Marlboro, a truck driver who worked — for Arthur Imperatore Sr. at APA long before he started NY Waterway — and revived ferry service in the metropolitan region.

— "I remember talking to Arthur about the ferry business — 10 years ago and telling him that he should put a ferry in Newburgh, — that it would be a big success,'' Nagel said.

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— Ferry facts

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— The West New York ferry meets six morning trains — and eight evening ones at the Metro-North station in Beacon.

— The first ferry leaves the Newburgh waterfront at — 5:40 a.m. to meet the 5:57 a.m. train. The ride takes about 10 minutes. — The schedule is posted online at www.mta.info.com.

— The ferry is free through Oct. 31. Parking, at the — new lot north of Gully's restaurant, is free indefinitely.

— After Oct. 31, the ferry will cost $10 a month or — $5 a week when purchased as part of a Metro-North ticket for the same — period.